F**d still crying.

Elwood · February 10, 2002

Sunday's results have Ford complaining more loudly

By KEITH PARSONS

AP Sports Writer

February 10, 2002

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) -- Dale Jarrett was less than pleased with his sixth-place finish in Sunday's Budweiser Shootout.

Tony Stewart won the 70-lap, made-for-TV event in a Pontiac, beating the Chevrolets of Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jeff Gordon. Ken Schrader's Pontiac was fourth, followed by Sterling Marlins' Dodge.

Jarrett had the first Ford, nearly 4 seconds behind Stewart.

``We're usually a contender here for this and we weren't even hardly in the race,'' Jarrett said. ``We ran good and made some passes, but most of the cars I passed were Fords.''

Jarrett and the other Ford drivers have complained that their cars are at an aerodynamic disadvantage. Kurt Busch, who gained the pole in a blind draw Thursday, led the first three laps in a Ford, and Rusty Wallace's Ford led four laps after a fast pit stop put him several seconds ahead.

That was it for Ford.

``It's absolutely ridiculous to come to the biggest race of the year, and NASCAR is in charge of evening up these manufacturers and they haven't done it,'' said Jarret's teammate Ricky Rudd, who dropped three laps behind early with a faulty transmission.

``It's not even close, so I don't understand.''

Earnhardt wasn't buying it.

``They got what they deserved,'' he said of the Ford teams. ``They laid around all winter.''

NASCAR announced after the race that it was taking the cars of Stewart, Earnhardt, Marlin and Jarrett to a wind tunnel. Spokesman Jim Hunter said officials were going to discuss Ford's complaints.

Any change wouldn't go into effect until after Monday's final time trials, Hunter said, but they would in place by Thursday's twin 125-mile qualifying races.<

I don't know about anybody else, but I thought Jr.'s comment was pretty dang funny.

MountaineerTom · February 10, 2002

Earnhardt wasn't buying it.

"They got what they deserved,'' he said of the Ford teams. "They laid around all winter.''

LMAO!

February 10, 2002

it seems funny that all the teams complain that they are at a disadvantage at Daytona, but no one will change bodies.

BGN and Goody's Dash owners will change bodies for that race only.

I Think that NASCAR should make them run as close to stock sheet metal as possible. Then all manufacturers would be even. It be what you and I buy at the local dealer.

Now if, in stock form, the Chevy body is superior to the Ford body, run a Chevrolet for Daytona and Talledega.

That would suck for cars sponsored by the Big Three, but hey, who said life was fair?